Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-11-17
A Disastrous Connagration.

Al ABOUT l;4O O'Clock on Monday morn
ing an alarm of fire was sounded and
upon investigation it was found that the
brick building occupied by the L. T., Va.
" Ga. X. r. Co., as an express and
freight depot and telegraph Office was on
fire. 1t was but a few minutes until a
large crowd had gathered in the immedi.
ate vicinity, and everything possible was
being done to stay the progress of the
flames.
When the fire was first discovered it
was burning along the frame partition
which separated the depot proper from
the side-track, and before assistance suf
ficient to stay the flames had arrived, they
had gained such Roadway as to render
impossible the salvation of the building
or its contents.
AS o as this fact became apparent,
all effort was directed towards saving
the Washington House and other frame
buildings in close proximity to the scene
of the fire. In order 10 prevent the first
mentioned building from igniting, blank
cts and quilts thoroughly soaked with
water were spread all along that portion
of the roof fronting on the railroad and
nearest the fire, and several of our citi-
zens remained on the hotel roof through.
out the continuance of the fire keeping
the blankets and quilts wet. At the
same time others performed like service
on other buildings.
The fire continued for about two hours,
and only died out when it had nothing
more upon which to feed. The depot
building was completely destroyed, and
with the exception of the express and
freight books, which the agent, Mr.. Tate
Earnest, secured, nothing was saved.
Among the losses werea car of baled
hay, which stood on the side.track and
which was consigned to Mr.. Joseph Lyon,
about a car load of fertilizer belonging
to Mr.. j. j. Hunt, about five hundred
bushels of wheat belonging to Mr.. Wright
Hoss and a couple of trunks of samples
belonging to Walters Sons & Co., of
Knoxville. These are but the largest
individual losses, aside from the building.
There were beside these numerous small.
er articles of express and freight, a record
of which is fortunately held by the agent.
The entire loss is estimated to be in the
neighborhood of $4,000,
AS to the origin of the fire, opinions
differ. Mr.. Earnest, the agent, positively
afiirms that there was no fire in the stove
in his office at 10 o'clock on Sunday night,
and this statement is borne out by that of
Mr.. Guy E. Sabin. who burst into the
office and who says that the fire at that
time was just coming through the par
tition. The incendiary theory held by
some might be worthy of consideration,
If some reason could be found for such
an action on the part of any person or
persons. Another theory is that a spark,
dropped by an engine on Saturday, had
lain and smouldered until the time of the
fire. 1t is, at least. very difficult to fix
the cause in the right place, and we
doubt very much il it ever will be fixed.
1t was a very fortunate thing that the
night was a still one, there being little
if any breeze stirring. Had there been
a high wind there is no telling where the
fire would have stopped. Surely not be.
fore the livery stable of MI. Geo. Squibb,
the saloon building of Mr.. Fletcher
O'Brien and the Office of the HERALD
AND TRIBUNE had been totally destroyed.